A tribute to the treasure trove of ecclesiastical art and architecture in the Diocese of Toledo.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Tiffin Manufacturing Company

Kevin Hammer has found this item in the Seneca Sentinal-Bicentennial Sketches, by Myron Bruce Barnes. Apparently, the Tiffin Manufacturing Company provided one-stop-shopping for church interiors. This is very interesting, and I'll post more when I've had time to look into it. The company was in business from 1874 to 1966, so there's no telling how much of their work is out there.

"Jacob [Scheiber] and his son began employing skilled cabinet makers, wood carvers, and furniture finishers, many of whom had acquired these skills in Europe. As the firm’s reputation grew, they imported artists who could paint murals and Stations of the Cross in the finest European tradition. Their hand carved woodwork for churches was of the highest quality. They designed and built altars, communion rails, confessionals, as well as executing finely detailed carved paneling, and church pews. …the main emphasis was always on their church furnishings. The cost of creating such skilled custom made work continued to increase. Furthermore, as the old world artisans died, it was difficult to find skilled replacements. The rising costs had resulted in the fact that many churches could no longer afford to build in the grand style. Then, in the post WW II years, tastes had changed, and church architecture began to reflect the preference for the plain and unadorned, and great emphasis was placed on the functional architecture and decoration. [ Editorial remark: Read: Butt ugly ] The business was discontinued on February 28, 1966, at which time a distribution of assets was made to the heirs."